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STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

Legal Studies Program
School of Security and Global Studies
LSTD497
Senior Seminar in Legal Studies
3 Credit Hours
8 Weeks
Prerequisite(s): ALL REQUIRED, CORE & MAJOR COURSES
MUST BE TAKEN PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT IN THIS COURSE

Table of Contents

Evaluation Procedures
Course Description Grading Scale
Course Scope Course Outline
Course Objectives Policies
Course Delivery Method Academic Services
Course Materials Selected Bibliography

Course Description (Catalog)

This capstone course is a senior level course designed to allow the student to
review, analyze and integrate the work the student has completed toward a degree in
Legal Studies. The student will complete an approved academic project or paper that
demonstrates mastery of their program of study in a meaningful culmination of their
learning and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree
requirements. NOTE: All required, core, and major courses must be completed prior to
enrollment in this course.

Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

Course Scope

LSTD497 is a Senior Seminar on selected topics in legal studies from an
interdisciplinary perspective. It focuses on law, its structure, and legal
institutions from cross-cultural, political, philosophical, economic, and historical
standpoints. Each focuses broadly on the relationship between law as a distinct
system and law as an attempt to achieve justice, which requires that law remain
open to claims of political morality generally. To what extent are legal norms
internal to a separate system called "law" and to what extent are claims of
political right in general relevant to question of what law is? During this course
students will be required to complete a substantial writing requirement
evidencing their knowledge legal analysis, research and writing.

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Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to
demonstrate and explain the following learning objectives:

A. Describe how the law is central to theories and research in
philosophy, social science, business, and public policy.

B. Analyze the role and authority of the judicial system in
interpreting the U.S. Constitution.

C. Clarify how the law can infringe on personal liberty.

D. Interpret how multilateralism has begun to form Supreme
Court precedent.

E. Differentiate between the three branches of government and
identify their relationships, conflicts, and roles.

F. Clearly, concisely and thoroughly evaluate the merit of a
selected legal concept in a Class Book chapter that synthesizes
the results of applicable legal research and analysis.
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

Course Delivery Method
This course is delivered via distance learning, enabling students to
complete academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course
materials and access to an online learning management system will be made
available to each student. Online assignments are due by the last day of each
week (Sunday, midnight, EST), and include Forum questions (accomplished in
groups through a threaded discussion forum), and a collaborative project with
individual assignments (submitted for review by the Faculty Member). Assigned
faculty will support the students throughout this eight-week course.
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Resources

The Bluebook: A Uniform Guide to Legal Citation, 19th ed., (2010).

Other Selected reading can be found in the “Course Materials.” Please visit
http://apus.libguides.com/er.php and search by the course number (ex: LITR210) to
access your required resources.

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Evaluation Procedures

GRADING SCALE

Please see the Student Handbook to reference the University’s grading scale.

FINAL GRADE BASED UPON:

There are a total of 100 points for this course, which are broken down as follows:

Assignments 45 points
Class Book Collaboration 55 points

Grade Instruments Points
Week 1 (Forum Introduction: Virtual License Plate) 1
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

Week 1 (Forum: Devil's Advocate) 4
Week 1 (Class Book: Table of Contents) 4
Week 2 (Forum: Letters to Editor) 5
Week 2 (Class Book: Chapter Assignments) 4
Week 2 (Assessing Web-based Resources, part 1) 1
Week 3 (Forum: Miranda v. Arizona - 20 Questions) 5
Week 3 (Class Book: Chapter Outlines) 4
Week 3 (Assessing Web-based Resources, part 2) 1
Week 4 (Forum: Rights to Life and Privacy) 5
Week 4 (Class Book: First Drafts) 4
Week 4 (Assessing Web-based Resources, part 3) 1
Week 5 (Forum: Nixon Library) 5
Week 5 (Class Book: Second Drafts) 4
Week 5 (Assessing Web-based Resources, part 4) 1
Week 6 (Forum: SWOT Team) 5
Week 6 (Class Book: Third Drafts) 5
Week 6 (Assessing Web-based Resources, part 5) 1
Week 7 (Forum: Kennedy v. Louisiana) 5
Week 7 (Class Book: Final Chapter Submission - forum) 5
Week 7 (Class Book: Final Chapter Submission -
chapter) 20
Week 8 (Class Book: Final Book Organization) 5
Week 8 (Forum: Journey's End) 5
TOTAL 100

The University will issue final official grades. Professors have seven (7) days from
the end of the course to submit their grades to the University. Students should not
contact the University looking for grades until at least 30 days after the end of the
course.
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ASSIGNMENTS & RESEARCH PAPER

There will be seven (7) assignments based on the readings. They are geared to
facilitate understanding of the Course Objectives. These Forum assignments, along with
the introduction and conclusion forums, comprise 40% of the final grade.
There are also five (5) assignments based on electronic research, which are
designed to ensure that students understand the relevance of high quality research
materials. The research assignments comprise 5% of the final grade. Students are
expected to complete all of these assignments. Each of the assignments is posted under
“Forums” in the electronic classroom.
In addition, students are required to work together on a major collaborative
project: the creation of a Class Book. This will include, but is not limited to, submission
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

of a 10-15 page chapter to the Class Book (not counting references). Students are
expected to fully cooperate with each other in creating the Class Book. The entire
collaborative effort necessary for the Class Book project comprises 55% of the final
grade. Most of students’ work will be performed with the respective Forums, but the
actual chapter submission will be made in the Assignments section of the classroom.
Reading Assignments:

You are expected to read all of the materials mentioned in this syllabus for each
respective week’s assignments. These materials are located in the Resources section of
the electronic classroom, unless otherwise noted.
Forum Assignments:

Introduction. You MUST post an introduction in that forum before midnight on
Sunday of the first week. Your introduction must be at least 250 words in
length. It's designed to accomplish two things: 1) build peer-to-peer
relationships by introducing oneself and one's background to the class; and 2)
articulate individual student learning goals and/or expectations for the class.
You MUST complete this assignment (which includes “submitting” it in the
Assignments section) to be identified as "attending" the class. Non-attending
students could be administratively dropped from the class, which could affect
your financial aid. You will receive 1 point for this assignment if it is completed
and submitted on time.
Weekly. Each week’s forum postings are worth 5 points (except for Week 1,
which is worth 4 points). Full participation in all forums is worth 30% of your
final grade. For full credit, you must submit your initial response to the forum
topic by Wednesday (except for week 1, when the deadline is Sunday) at
midnight, AND respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings for each
week's topic no later than Sunday at midnight. Note that your initial posting
must be at least 500 words in length, and at least two of your responsive
postings must be at least 250 words in length. All must address the subject
matter assigned for each respective forum discussion.
Conclusion. You MUST post a conclusion in that forum before midnight on
Thursday of the last week. Your close-out comments must be at least 500 words
in length, AND you must make at least two responsive postings that are at least
250 words in length no later than Sunday at midnight. You will receive 5 points
for this assignment if it is completed and submitted on time.
Note: Your Forum Participation will be strictly graded using a Rubric. This will help
with your understanding of what constitutes the grade assigned to your paper. A copy
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

of the Rubric can be found in the “Resources” section of the classroom. You may wish
to print it up and look at it in preparing your work.

Examinations: This course will have NO exams.

Class Book Chapter: The chapter that you must submit for inclusion in the Class Book is
required to be between 10 - 15 pages in length. It is further required to demonstrate
your cumulative legal studies knowledge, and is to be scholarly in nature. That means
that it will be evaluated on a variety of quality matters, such as primary research sources
upon which you relied, as well as your use of Bluebook citation formatting. The entire
class will work together in order to determine the subjects to be covered by each
chapter so as to create a coherent Class Book by the end of the course. Your chapter
contribution must be double spaced upon final submission.
Note: Your Class Book chapter will be strictly graded using a Rubric. This will help
with your understanding of what constitutes the grade assigned to your paper. A copy
of the Rubric can be found in the “Resources” section of the classroom. You may wish
to print it up and look at it in preparing your work.

Turnitin.com

You will be required to upload your research paper at Turnitin.com through the
classroom.

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Course Outline

Week Topic(s) Learning Lesson Assignment(s)
Objectives
THESE ARE MULTI-
PART
ASSIGNMENTS:

1 Overview of A. Distinguish Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 (1) Post your
Constitutional between the Cranch) 137 (1803). introduction
Limits different (Virtual License
branches of Listen also to the oral argument Plates) in the
government which can be found at: Forum; and
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

B. Identify the 1979/1974/1974_73_1766 (2) Read the case
sources of law of Marbury v.
Review Week 1 PPT lectures Madison, 5 U.S. (1
C. Analyze the Cranch) 137
power of CALI Registration Information: (1803), which can
judicial review 1. Go to www.cali.org and click on be found in the
the 'Not a registered user yet?' Resources link
D. Recognize link. under "Student
and implement 2. In the field requesting an Resources"
proper legal authorization code enter: subfolder "Weekly
citation. AMEPUNstu622 Reading."
3. Provide the information Make your initial
requested on the next screens. posting in the
4. At the completion of the “Madison v.
registration process you will be Marbury: Devil’s
logged on to the CALI website and Advocate" Forum
may use the legal education and respond to at
lessons. least 2 of your
classmates; and
On subsequent visits to the
website, log on by just entering (3) Begin the Class
your email address and the Book collaborative
password you created when you project by making
registered on the site. The at least 3
authorization code is used only substantive posts
the first time when you registered in order to
on the website. complete the
“Table of
CALI Lesson: Contents"
Citation Forms for Briefs and assignment in the
Legal Memoranda (Lesson Forum.
ID: LWR01)

2 General A. Restate the Brown v. Board of Education of (1) Read the case
Principles of Equal Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) of Brown v. Board
Equality Protection of Education of
Clause of the Review Week 2 PPT lectures Topeka, 347 U.S.
14th 483 (1954), which
Amendment CALI Lesson: can be found in
How to Brief a Case (Lesson ID: Resources.
B. Compare and LWR09) Respond to the
contrast the question posted in
arguments put the “Brown v.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

forward by Board of
Appellant and Education: Letters
Appellee in to the Editor”
Brown. Forum; and

C. Analyze the (2) Continue
various forms of working on the
judicial Class Book
interpretation. collaborative
project by making
at least 3
substantive posts
in order to
complete the
“Chapter
Assignments"
assignment in the
Forum; and

(3) Begin learning
how to assess
web-based
resources by
finding at least
three (3) legal
resources through
the internet related
to this week's case
study and sharing
them in the “Let’s
Check It Out, Part
1” forum.

3 Constitutional A. Identify Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436
Rights various rights (1966) 1) Read Miranda
guaranteed by v. Arizona, 384
the Fifth Florida v. Powell , 559 U.S. ___ U.S. 436 (1966)
Amendment (2010) and Florida v.
Powell , 559 U.S.
B. Analyze Review Week 3 PPT lectures ___ (2009), which
issues relating can be found in
to custody and CALI Lesson: the Resources link.
interrogation Miranda I Collaboratively
(Lesson ID: CRMPRO18) respond to the
C. Differentiate posting in the “20
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

when Miranda II: Questions” Forum;
protections (Lesson ID: CRMPRO25) and
become
available (2) Continue
working on the
D. Explain the Class Book
Exclusionary collaborative
Rule. project by making
at least 3
substantive posts
in order to
complete the
“Chapter Outlines"
assignment in the
Forum; and

(3) Continue
learning how to
assess web-based
resources by
evaluating at least
three (3) legal
resources that
your peers found
through the
internet and
sharing them in
the “Let’s Check It
Out, Part 2” forum.

Constitutional A. Balance the Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
Rights rights to life and 1) Read Roe v.
4 to privacy Review Week 4 PPT lecture (also Wade, 410 U.S.
relative to their contained in the Voicethread 113 (1973), which
respective legal exercise) can be found in
and moral the Resources link.
strengths and Collaboratively
weaknesses respond to the
interactive
B. Distinguish Voicethread link
when the rights called “Rights to
overlap and Life and Privacy”
explain possible Forum; and
resolutions
(2) Continue
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a
preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and
you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on
this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet
started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student
portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS.

C. Analyze the working on the
various forms of Class Book
judicial collaborative
interpretation. project by making
at least 3
substantive posts
in the “First
Drafts"
assignment in the
Forum; and

(3) Continue
learning how to
assess web-based
resources by
finding at least
three (3) legal
resources through
the APUS library
and sharing them
in the “Let’s Check
It Out, Part 3”
forum.

5 Limits on Power A. Differentiate United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. (1) Read the case
the powers 683 (1974) of United States v.
allotted to the Nixon, 418 U.S.
various Review Week 5 PPT lectures 683 (1974), which
branches of can be found in
government CALI Lesson: the Resources link.
Constitutional Placement of Respond to the
B. Explain the Administrative Process (Lesson question posed in
limits on ID: ADM05) the Week 5 “Nixon
Presidential Library” Forum
power. and to at least 2 of
your classmates.
C. Discuss the
various issues (2) Continue
that arise when working on the
a President Class Book
exercises collaborative
authority. project by making
at least 3
substantive posts
in order to